This is my 9th year choosing a focus word for the year. I do not much believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I completely believe in the #oneword concept. In fact, in 2023 I invited a few folks to join me in the process of choosing my word for this year. Now they each have a focus word to hold them accountable for reaching their goals, too.
You can read my posts through the years as I navigated my one word journey: Courage, Aim, Go, Renew, Release, Grace, Choice, and Surrender. The early years I didn’t journal much. As the years progressed and my spiritual and emotional growth began to blossom, I started writing about this “one word” concept and how I use it.
My word for 2024 is DELIVER and it is very much tied to the scripture in Ephesians 2:10. I’m a big planner. I love to learn new things. I protect my emotional health by resting sufficiently and building energizing activities in to my life. If I’m not careful I’ll spend all my time thinking, laughing, and learning. While I’m very grateful for this leisurely life I live, the time has come to “do”.
It’s time to deliver on the ideas and inspirations that God has given us…and by “us” I mean “me.” I almost made my word “Do” for the year, but that wasn’t clear enough to guide me and keep me on track. It’s not a defendable word. We can always “do” stuff. No, that wasn’t it. For me, “DELIVER” means that I’m doing only the things God asks of me. “DELIVER” means I’m saying only what God has for me to stay. Writing only what God has given me to write, going where God says go, and so on. You get the point.
When you “DELIVER” you are not the source of the substance, nor are you the beneficiary. You are just, as my mom likes to say, “God’s postman”. So, after my years of resting in God’s grace, making my personal choices, and surrendering to the sovereignty of God, I am ready to deliver. I’m in the third year of a three-year plan and I’m pretty excited about it.
What has God asked you to do this year? I pray you have vision, clarity, and discipline to not simple “do” it, but to deliver.
Are you interested in finding your ONE WORD focus for the year? Check out the ONE WORD Coaching Program.
TOYI ELIZABETH 